Hours had passed since Cassiel's group reached their destination.
Hours, yet they still haven't been able to break through the wall surrounding Anvilius.
Ophelia, being the only warrior in the group with the ability to fight at extreme distances, has continuously been kept in check by the sheer number of arrows and bolts being shot into the ground.
Whatever it was that the vampires in Anvilius were using, it was effective enough to hold back the strongest living being on Rampiel, along with multiple other royal bloods.
The bolts and arrows raining down on the group were shot so rapidly, Ophelia has had only ten chances to fire back, even after hours passing.
At a stand still, it was a true battle of endurance.
.....
Worn down, battered, tired, filled with dread and hopelessness, Ophelia finally breaks to Cassiel.
"My king... I-I can't keep doing this, I can't find any openings, it's been over four hours yet I've only killed ten out of... damnit I can't even count how many there are!" Ophelia yells out, her eyes trembling from the focus she's had to endure.
Glaring down at Ophelia, it was clear he was about to bark a terrible order for her, and without a moment's hesitation, Albus steps in.
"I will be your distraction."
Without stopping, nor looking back, Albus steps onto the field, his sword drawn as he stares at the wall in front of him.
The arrows in front of him, although many, could never reach him.
Watching in awe, Cassiel's group were struck with shock.
Cassiel himself, however, had a large grin spread across his face.
He could see the mana surrounding Albus, as it almost contested his own.
'Even after all my training... This boy truly is terrifying now.' Cassiel thinks to himself proudly.
As he continued walking forward, all the bolts and arrows were targeted towards Albus, fearful of him reaching the wall.
This gave Ophelia the chance to join back into the fight.
Pulling back her bowstring, she loads it with multiple arrows at a time, before firing them off like heat seeking missiles.
Dropping like flies, it didn't take long for the Anvilius vampires to realize what was happening, before having half of them shift focus back towards the cover the group was hiding behind.
Although it lasted only a mere four seconds, Ophelia was able to fire off a total of twenty-two arrows, killing over sixty vampires.
Going back behind cover, Albus joins shortly after, panting.
"Damnit... even that didn't work for long, and they've already filled their spots back up!" Albus yells out in frustration.
Looking on as his subjects worry in fear, Cassiel finally speaks.
"All of you will protect me for the next three minutes, this is an order." He demands, ready to stand up.
In immediate response, the warriors stand with him, deflecting any and every arrow that comes their way.
Smiling, Cassiel begins to chant a magic spell, one that would completely drain all of the mana in his body.
.....
Two minutes had passed at this point, and the group was completely drained.
Their hands were covered in blisters, their arms were numb, and their legs were shaking.
None of them would have any issue blocking a couple dozen arrows, but this situation was different.
The vampires set on the walls were firing down a hellish storm of heavy, metallic arrows, each weighing well over five pounds.
The sheer velocity at which they traveled would leave small holes in the ground if they missed, meaning that blocking them would leave a toll on anyone's body.
.....
"My king, we cannot hold out for much longer..." Kislev pants out, punching another arrow to the side.
Continuing to chant, it's as if he doesn't hear Kislev's plea for help.
"DON'T DROP YOUR ARMS NOW! WE'RE ALMOST THERE!" Albus blurts out as if his soul was set on fire.
Barely able to continue, it's not long before Thern and Elysia drop out, leaving only Kislev and Albus, as Ophelia isn't able to block arrows.
As the load of arrows increase twofold on both of them, they yell out in a fiery rage of willpower.
Knowing very well this may be their only shot, they continue to give it all as time ticks down.
Dropping his guard from exhaustion, an arrow is only a meter away from flying through Kislev's face, before shooting straight up into the sky, along with hundreds of other arrows.
"Seventh tier magic, Despair."
The hearts of all surrounding life are immediately dropped into their stomachs.
The absolute mass of mana above their heads would burn their eyes if they were to look at it.
Everything from rocks, branches, and the arrows, would fly straight into the huge ball of blood red mana.
Finally, before long, the ball is launched straight into the entrance of Anvilius, smashing through the wall as the vampires lined atop of it are crushed under the pressure.
.....
With the entrance to the city being covered in smoke and dust, Albus turns to Cassiel as he drops to the ground barely conscious.
Remembering something Cassiel had done in the past, Albus rushes over, slitting his finger before putting it above his mouth.
"Don't you dare... put that filthy blood in my mouth... I'll be fine, I just... need rest." Cassiel mumbles, falling unconscious.
Albus, embarrassed, wipes the blood off his finger before trying to pick Cassiel up, before realizing he's unable to due to losing all feeling in his arms.
Cursing under his breath, both Albus and Kislev stare at Ophelia.
.....
.....
Holed up inside of a half broken house, the group take this final chance to recuperate themselves, unknowing of what will come next.
.....
Almost an hour had passed.
The once bright sky had turned dark.
Thern still couldn't feel his arms, the constant fights have proven difficult for his body to handle.
Elysia and Kislev were both just now feeling better, while Ophelia was taking this chance to tend to Albus.
Cassiel was laid asleep on the only bed in the small house, his pulse barely beating.
Before long, however, he would awaken to the sounds of the door being banged against.
It was vampires from Anvilius checking through each and every house in search of survivors, not knowing the mysterious group that had attacked them just an hour before had ventured inside the city.
After a minute of trying to get the door open, the vampires outside quickly gave up before resorting to breaking the door down.
As weapons were swung into the door, bits and pieces of it would fly across the room, before finally, they'd make it inside.